LEARNING OUTCOMES
The students at the end of the course will be familiar the: biochemical tests on special populations i.e. children, aged people, pregnant women, professional athletes, patients with rare diseases (lysosomal deficiencies, psychiatric diseases), screening tests for the assessment of infertility in men/women, special issues about drugs, medicines and nutrition.
SYLLABUS
1. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the diagnosis of childhood diseases: the biochemical laboratory examinations concerning childhood diseases such as congenital hypothyroid, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, etc.
2. The biochemical control of childhood obesity: the clinical chemistry tests i.e enzymes, hormones and other analytes that are carried out in order to diagnose and childhood obesity.
3. The biochemical control of childhood osteoporosis: the laboratory and imaging tests that must be carried out to diagnose and monitor childhood osteoporosis.
4. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the diagnosis of rare lysosomal diseases: the clinical chemistry’s analyses or other tests that are required for the diagnosis and monitor of rare lysosomal diseases such as Gaucher, Pompe, MPS, Fabry diseases.
5. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the diagnosis of rare genetic sex-linked and autosomal diseases: e.g. cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, fragile X syndrome.
6. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the prenatal screening of men and women: hormonal and biochemical control of the gonads.
7. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to pregnancy screening: hormonal and biochemical
monitor for the prevention of genetic diseases and the monitoring of maternal health i.e. 45, X/46, XY gonadal dysgenesis, Turner syndrome, Batten syndrome.
8. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the screening of elderly people: the biochemical and hormonal diagnostic tests for the monitor of the elderly diseases.
9. The biochemistry of nutrition: the ideally intake of carbohydrates, fats and vitamins and their biochemical control, the Mediterranean diet and the biochemical monitor of their beneficial effects on the body.
10. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the monitoring of psychiatric and neurological diseases: the biochemical, hormonal and blood tests for monitoring of psychiatric and neurological diseases.
11. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry to the prevention of the effects of drugs and other toxic factors: the biochemical tests that are carried out in the clinical laboratory to monitor the effects of drugs, smoking and alcohol, the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)
12. The contribution of Clinical Chemistry for the monitoring of sepsis and microbiological infections.
13. The biochemistry of exercise: the most important biochemical tests for the monitoring of the health and performance of amateur and professional athletes.